Hood latch



May 9, 1933. N, A. ME'ARs ET AL 9'79431 HOOD LATCH Filed June 29, 1931 s -sheets-sheet 1 My 9, 1933. N, A MEARS Er AL 1,307,431

HOOD LATCH Filed June 29. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 9, 1933. N. A. MEARs Er AL. 1,907,431

HOOD LATCH Filed June` 29, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VIII/1111114,A l

@MM/KQ@ fiar/Myst ment on the frame of the automobile.

Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE NORTON A. MEARS AND DIBRELL-P. HYNES, F CHICAGO, ILJNOS, ASSIGNORS TO CHICAGO FORGING & MANUFACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, LLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed June 29,

Our invention relates to locking or latching means for closures and is herein shown as applied to automobilehood closure of the usual double hinged variety. One purpose is the provision of simple and easily operated means for holding such a closure in closed position. Another object is the pro-I vision of means which draw the closure downwardly and inwardly against its abutother object is the provision of simple and strong means for simultaneously actuating a plurality of hood latches. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and drawings.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a partial interior elevation on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 2; f

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 2, of a variation;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view,`similar to Figures 2 and 6,of a variant form;'

Figure 9 is a section on the'line 9 9 of Fic-ure 8' n 7 Figure 10 is a view, similar to Figure 8, with parts in a. diEerent position; .A

Figure ll is a detail of a connecting member;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12 12 of Figure l1; and

Figure 13 is a. section on the line 13 13 of Figure 12.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates the automobile body, and A1 the double hinged hood member or closure. A2 indicates the vehicle frame and A4 A4 indicate terminal abutments for the ends of the hood.

Anb 1931. serial Np. 547,494.

Mounted upon the inner face of the hood is a rock shaft generally indicated as B, havingthe terminal cranks B1 adapted to engage locking membersor keepers B2 which have the faces or edges B3 inclined upwardly and inwardly in relation to the hood closure. The rock shaft may be mounted to rotate in terminal bearing members or sleeves B4. B5 indicates a central unitary earing and assembly supporting plate which may have formed integrally therewith the bearing sleeves B6 for the intermediate portion of the rock shaft B. The rock shaft is offset, between the bearings B6 to provide a crank portion which includes the rectilinear member B7 and the portions B8 which connect it to the rest of the rock shaft.

The plate B5 is shown as including the apertured cup C which receives a penetrating cup C1 having a reduced portion C7' aligned with the aperture C3 of the cup C. Rotatable in the portions C2 C3 is a handle shaft C* whichmay be secured to or have. associated therewith a handle generally indicated as C5vwhich includes a portion C6 co-aXial with the shaft C4, a handle portion C7 generally parallel with the face of the lclosure and an inwardly recurved end portion CS. Y

Held against rotation in relation with the shaft C4 is the crank arm D shown as abutting against the inner face of the cup C. It may be held for example by the washer D1 and the nut D2 screwthreaded on the inner end D3 of the shaft C4. The crank D is provided with an inwardly extending crank pin D5 adapted to engage the oset portion B7 of the rock shaft. In order to maintain the two at all times in operative relationship we provide the connector member D6 rotatable on the crank pin D5 and held from escape therefrom as by the pinched out portions D7. The opposite end of the crank is forwardly bent as at D8 to abut against the face of the plate B5. The plateV is provided with outstanding limit members D9 D10, whereby the rotation of the crank D and thus of the handle C5 is limited to a predetermined arc, for example in the neighborhood of 90. It will be noted that the center of rotation of the shaft C4 is offset from axis of rotation of the rock shaft B for a substantial distance. In the present form it is shown as substantially below the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, but it might be above it. One result obtained by this disposition is that a longer crank is used, its effective length being greater' than the effective length of the crank portions B8 of the rock sha-ft. Thus rotation of the handle through a given arc causes a rotation of the rock shaft through a greater arc.

Referring to the form of Figures 6 and 7 we illustrate intermediate crank or odset portion of the rock shaft B which includes a portion E which is connected at one end by the radial member E1 with the rock shaft B. At its other end it is connected as by the curved or arcuate portion E2 with the rock shaft B. This arcuate portion may be generally concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft C4. In ord-er to maintain an actuating connection between the handle and the intermediate crank offset of the rock shaft we provide a plate E3 mounted on the shaft C4. From the plate inclines al pin E4, herein shown as rectilinear by inwardly inclining. The connector D6 is mounted on the pin E4, thus dispensing with the crank pin D5 shown in Figure 4. Y

Referring to the form of Figures 8, 9 and l0, the offset crank portion is similarly formed, although variations in form and proportion may be necessary. In the place of the connector member De is employed a tubular connector G which rotates about the pin E4. It may be slotted on opposite sides as at G1 G2, for permitting the passage therethrough of the intermediate crank portion of the rock shaft B. In the particular proportional parts herein shown it may be desirable to have the two slots of unequal length.

Referring to Figures 11, 12 and 13, we illustrate a variant connector G3, similar to the connector G and with the slots G1 G2 continuing to the end of the connector. Under some conditions this form is preferable but the connector G is in genera-l stronger, as the cylindrical ends of the tube serve as reinforcements, wherein the tube GtJ is thus reinforced or strengthened at only one end.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a'practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size,shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention. We, therefore, wish our drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting us to the precise detail of the present showing.

The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

In securing the hinged hood portions of automobiles and plates, securing Vmeans are of a single handle member.

fecting these results which are simple and eiiicient and which respond to the movement This handle member, being preferablysituated midway between the ends of the hood, not only serves to control the hood latching means, but also serves as a handle for lifting the hood when the latches arey disengaged. We preferably employ a handle of somewhat elongated form, to serve conveniently as a lifting as well as a turning means. In the form here# in shown we so proportion the parts that the handle C5 is in lgenerally horizontal position when the latches are engaged and is in generally vertical position when they are disengaged. We find it convenient to limit the rotation of the handle to an arc in the neighborhood of 900, preferably slightly more than 90. VThe proportion of the parts is such that when the latches are engaged the cranks D or E4 are 'somewhat beyond dead center, held by the 'abutment D10. The spring or torsional distortion of the rock shaft is sufficient to hold the parts locked in Y the position in whichV they are shown, for

example in Figure 2. Owing to the greater length of the crank of the handle, the effective movement of the arc of the rock shaft is substantially greater than the arcV of movement of the handle.

The engagement of the termin al crank members B1 of the rock shaft with the inclined surfaces B8 of the abutments B2 effects a cam action which tends automatically to compensatev for wear and for variations in the relative position of the parts due to irregularities in manufacture or assembly.

IVe claim:

l. Actuating means for rotating a horizontally axised rock shaft of an automobile hood closure latch, which include a crank oifset intermediate the ends Vof the rock shaft, a handle exterior to the hood, a handle shaft mounted upon the hood closure for rotation about an axisf generally perpendicular to the face of the closure, said axis being substantially downwardly removed from the,

longitudinal axis of the rock shaft, a crank rotating with said handle shaft and within the closure and a connecting member rotatably positioned upon said crank and rotatable about an axis extending longitudinally of said crank, said member having an operative connection with the offset crank portion of the rock shaft, the effective radial length of the handle shaft crank exceeding the effective radial length of the crank offsetof the rock shaft by an amount sufficient to obtain a substantial amplification between the rotary movements of the handle shaft and rock shaft.

2. Actuating means for rotating a horizontally axised rock shaft of an automobile hood closure latch, which include a crank offset intermediate the ends of the rock shaft, a handle exterior to the hood, a handle shaft mounted upon the hood closure for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the face of the closure, said axis being substantially downwardly removed from the longitudinal axis of the rock shaft, a crank rotating with said handle shaft and within the closure and a connecting member rotatably positioned upon said crank and rotatable about an axis extending longitudinally of said crank, said member having an operative connection with the oset crank portion of the rock shaft, the eective radial length of the handle shaft crank substantially exceeding the effective radial length of the crank offset of the rock shaft, said crank offset including a portion extending radially generally at right angles to the rock shaft and a generally arcuate portion connecting the outer end of said radial portion with the rock shaft.

3. Actuating means for rotating a horizontally axised rock shaft of an automobile hood closure latch, which include a crank oset intermediate the ends of the rock shaft, a handle exterior to the hood, a handle shaft mounted upon the hood closure for rotation Y about an axis generally perpendicular to the face of the closure, said axis being downwardly removed from the longitudinal axis of the rock shaft an amount substantiallyV equal to the effective radial extension of the crank offset of the rock shaft, a crank rotating with said handle shaft and within the closure and a connecting member rotatably positioned upon said crank and having an operative connection with the offset crank portion of the rock shaft, said connecting member being rotatable about an axis generally coincident with the radial extension of said crank whereby a rotation 0f substantially 90 degrees of the handle shaft will cause a substantially 180 degree rotation of the rock shaft.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and Y State of Illinois, this 24th day of June, 1931.

NORTON A. MEARS.

DIBRELL P. HYN ES. 

